The following example illustrates how Codexis biocatalysts can improve chemical manufacturing processes by reducing manufacturing time, cost, and waste.

The Challenge: Process Inefficiency

Current production of a high-volume pharmaceutical compound requires use of large amounts of a hazardous, selective reducing reagent. The use of high volumes of reagent also generates a large amount of waste that is difficult and time consuming to remove. After extensive searching by previous researchers, an enzyme from nature was discovered that could perform the desired reaction but was not suitable for commercial use. The enzyme was difficult to purify, produced less than ideal chiral purity and was unable to perform in the presence of standard, inexpensive solvents.

The Solution: An Enzyme That Fits

Codexis identified a starting enzyme with activity from its collection of proprietary enzyme variants, but this variant still needed 2000x improvement in activity. Using its proprietary technology, Codexis evolved an improved enzyme for activity, stability, and solvent tolerance. The resulting biocatalyst meets commercially defined performance targets, and was developed in less than six months.

The Outcome: Lower Cost, Higher Quality, Less Waste

• Raw material differentials: The Codexis biocatalytic process significantly reduces the raw material cost by obviating the need for expensive reducing agents and solvents.
• Manufacturing differentials: The Codexis process can reduce or eliminate the need for costly equipment requiring extreme pressure or temperatures, thus reducing required capital expenditures.
• Quality advantage: Perfect enantioselectivity.
• Green chemistry: Using the current process, the reducing agent produces as much waste as the desired product. In contrast, the Codexis biocatalytic process results in only 3-5 percent waste.